WORKERS at a major Winsford employer are poised to consider industrial action over an ongoing contract dispute.

Jiffy Packaging, based in Road Four of the Winsford Industrial Estate, is in discussions with the Unite union over proposed changes to approximately a hundred contracts.

Regional officer for the Unite union, Phil Morgan, said: “It’s not a redundancy situation. The company have been discussing changes to contracts of employment with us for a number of weeks. The work force has not accepted them.

“The company is now setting in motion a chain of events to terminate the contracts and offer re-engagement to workers on new contracts.

“From our point of view, that’s not acceptable and we will likely be balloting for industrial action.”

Managing director of Jiffy Packaging UK, Max Weller, confirmed Jiffy were continuing to negotiate with Unite and was hopeful of resolving the situation soon.

He said: “We’ve been in discussions for some time to make changes to terms and conditions.

“The company continues to be actively engaged trying to find a satisfactory resolution for both parties, and we hope to find one in the coming days and weeks.”

Jiffy Packaging Company Ltd was established in 1964 to manufacture the Jiffy Padded Bag from a base in Winsford.

Their present site in the town, which is the UK head office, manufactures bubble film, bubble lined mailers, Padded Bags, sheet foam, technical foams, and a range of converted bubble and foam products.

Since 2005, Jiffy Packaging Co Limited has been owned by the USA-based Pregis Corporation.